The next morning came early. The crisp, pre-dawn air of the Capital was biting, but I knew it was nothing compared to the freezing chill waiting for me up North.
I stood in the entryway of the mansion, adjusting the heavy collar of my winter coat.
"You packed the high-grade healing potions, right?" Ariana asked for the third time, aggressively fussing with my scarf. Her violet eyes were filled with a lingering, stubborn worry behind her glasses. "And the mana-recovery elixirs? And the thermal salves?"
"Yes, Ariana. They are all safely in my spatial pouch," I smiled, catching her hands to stop her from adjusting my scarf into a literal chokehold. "I'm just taking a train ride to my parents' house. I'm not deploying to a warzone."
"With your luck, the train will get hijacked by a rogue dragon," she muttered. Still, a faint blush dusted her cheeks as I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Just... come back in one piece. And don't let your father bully you."
